Necktie construction



17, 1942- A. J. FIUMEDORO NECKTIE CONSTRUCTION Filed March 4, 1941 Patented Nov. 17, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFlQE NECKTIE CONSTRUCTION Ali J. Fiumedoro, Boston, Mass.

Application March 4, 1941, Serial No. 381,680

6 Claims.

This invention relates to neckties and more especially to a necktie construction of the four-im hand type.

In an earlier patent, No. 2,122,811, issued to me July 5, 1938, a novel four-imhand necktie construction has been described and claimed, which embodies improvements in appearance, ease of assembly, cheapness, durability and the like.

It is a principal object of the invention to improve necktie constructions of the same general character, and to devise a novel combination of materials in ties with a view to providing further cheapness and durability. Another object is to provide means for imparting greater accuracy in forming the knot of such ties and for insuring a more squarely disposed arrangement of the knot portion with respect to depending or apron portions. The invention also aims to presenta novel arrangement of supporting strap members with the knot portion of a tie and generally to improve the appearance of the tie and its attachment about the neck of the wearer.

The nature of the invention and its objects will be more fully understood from the following description of the drawing and discussion relating thereto.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a plan view of necktie materials secured together preparatory to forming a necktie construction in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is another plan view illustrating the rear side of the necktie in a partially assembled state;

Fig. 3 is a cross section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view fragmentarily illustrating the rear side of the tie in a loosely knotted position; and

Fig. 5 is a perspective view fragmentarily illustrating the tie in a finished state.

In neckties of the four-in-hand type set forth in the patent above referred to, a strip which includes several layers of material is furnished with a supporting strap element and is knotted at one extremity, around the strap element, to provide only one depending apron portion in place of the two depending portions commonly occurring in conventional four-in-hand ties. The materials employed in such ties include a soft cloth such as flannel, referred to as a filler, a relatively stiffer fabric such as drilling or buckram known as a backin and a finely woven textile such as silk or the like, called. the covering. The filling provides body to the tie, the buckram lends-stiffness and permanence of shape, 7-

and the covering furnishes general style'and appearance. By knotting the strip at one end and thus eliminating one .of the apron portions of va conventional four-in-hand tie, there are obtained very desirable savings in materials and Workmanship.

In accordance with the present invention, I have devised a necktie construction of the same general character in which a novel combination of materials and a novel arrangement of support! ing straps are provided.

In the construction shown, numeral l indicates a strip of filler such as flannel, and numeral 2 refers toa backing composed of a stiffening material such as buckram. The filler member is folded upon itself and secured to the backing by a line of stitching 3, which extends transversely of the backing and which passes through the filler along its folded edge. The backingZ is formed of a length such that it overlaps the folded over end 4 of the fillerand extends beyond the folded edge of the filler. A second line of stitching 5 extends longitudinally of the strips I and 2 and secures the overlapping end of the backing to both of the underlying layers of the filler member. In addition to being of the relative length described, the backer member 2 is preferably formed with a somewhat abruptly tapered overlapping end 2a, and a relatively gradually tapering strap portion 9. The extending strap portion 9 is folded upon itself, longitudinally of the strip 2, and secured in some suitable manner as by stapling 9a. A neckband 16 of elastic material, with loop l1 and hook it, is secured to the strap portion 9 and if desired may also be secured by the stapling Set as illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawing. The width of the tapered strap portion 9 is preferably such that, in the folded position noted, the end generally approximates or slightly exceeds the width of the neckband. Also the layers of material of the folded strap portion 9 occur in planes substantially parallel to the plane of the elastic neckband l6.

Numeral 6 denotes a covering, such as silk or other desirable fabric, which surrounds the backer and filler materials, as illustrated in Figs. 25 inclusive.

The .two layers of the folded over filler l, .together with adjacent backing and covering portions, are gathered up into a pleat l which extends in a direction longitudinally with respect to the strips of material and which is secured by a stapling member 8 at a point intermediate of the line of stitching 3 and the tapered end 2a of the backing. The distance between the point of insertion of the stapling 8 and the extremity of the folded strap portion 9 is such as will allow for the formation of a knot and the projection of the folded end from the knot, as will appear hereinafter.

The pleat l is formed on the rear side of the tie as illustrated in Fig. 2 and results in the formation of a centrally disposed crease 8 in the front side of the tie, as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 5.

Located intermediate the pleat l and the folded strap portion 9 of the tie is a strap element ill. The strap element is preferably secured on the rear side of the tie, obliquely to a line passing centrally of the strip, and consists of a folded strip of substantially the same width as that of the folded strap portion 9 and composed of a material corresponding to the covering fabric 6. The strap element is fastened to the tie at a distance from the extremity of folded strap portion 9 which generally corresponds to its own length.

M denotes the knot portion of the tie which is obtained by folding upon themselves the portions of the covering, filling and backer which occur between the pleat T and the folded end 9, as illustrated in Fig. 4. In detail, formation of the knot I4 consists in folding the strap portion 9 of the tie, as viewed in Fig. 2, downward to the left, to form a loop, the lower side of which is positioned substantially adjacent to the stapling 8. The strap portion 9 is passed around the strap element I!) and then up through the loop thus formed, as indicated in Fig. 4. The portion of the tie material occurring at the top of the loop, in the loosely knotted position illustrated in Fig. 4,

is folded over upon itself to form a crease I5.

Thereafter the folded strap portion 9 is drawn through the loop of material, tightening the knot and compacting the looped'material along the crease line l5. The materials of which the loop is formed consist of only the buckram and covering to facilitate tightening the loop, and the length of the materials occurring between the stapling 8 and the folded strap portion 9 is such that the folded strap portion 9, in a tightened position of the knot, projects from the loop a distance substantially equivalent to the length of the strap element id, as is more clearly illustrated in Fig. 5, thus forming a second and similar supporting strap portion. To the strap element H1 is secured a ring H in which the fastening 18 may engage.

An important feature of the invention is the shape of the backer member 2 and its arrangement with the filler member l, particularly illustrated in Fig. 1. The cost of stiffening materials such as buckram and muslin, is relatively high and savings in this material are greatly to be desired. It should be noted that by the particular design of filler and backing shown, a suiiicient buckram material is present to insure stiffening of the knot portions-of the tie, the folded. strap portion 9 and those portions of material immediately adjacent the crease 8, but no material extends into the apron portion as has heretofore been the case. This effects a considerable saving. Particularly desirable results are obtained from securing the backing to the filler at two points. This insures stiffening material being held'in exact position suitable for forming a smoothly pleated apron portion at the lower end of the knot l4 and gives the tie strength and durability.

Another important feature of the invention is the arrangement of the strap element II] in an portion 9 and at a distance from the extremity of the folded end generally corresponding to the length of the strap element it. The angular positioning of the strap element It! provides for this member projecting out of the finished knot in a normally angular manner, such as that illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, without its being necessary to twist the knot or to pull the strap element into its desired position. The angular location of the strap element l9 has also been found to provide for an oppositely and similarly angled disposition of the folded strap portion 9 in the knot it. By having the strap element It! and folded strap portion 9 normally projecting from the top of the knot in an angular manner, the knot is prevented from being urged into a distorted shape and tends to take a true position about the neck of the wearer, and to remain squarely disposed with respect to the depending or apron portion of the tie. This is important since in previous constructions of this character,

twisting or pulling the knot and strap portions in order to secure their proper disposition has angular position with respect to .the folded strap resulted in distortion of the knot with respect to the depending portions of the tie, and the knot tends to take a one-sided position. the arrangement noted, the strap element l9 and folded strap portion 9 occur in a position such that they lie flatly against the neck of the wearer.

Still other features of the invention are the stapling of the pleat and the formation of the crease 15. The stapling 8 is carried out at a point such that it provides a guide for forming the lower side of the knot i l. The stapling also adds stability and resilience to the knot itself.

The crease l5, when disposed substantially in the middle of the loop of material referred to in.

forming the knot, is important in allowing the strap portion 9 to project from the knot in a properly angled manner, with the generally conical form of the knot being substantially preserved.

If desired, various other materials of the relative stiffening and covering character referred to may be utilized, and other forms of fastenings than staples may be utilized for the securing of the pleat 1. Similarly, the strap element H] may be secured to the tie by stitching or other means than by the stapling l2 noted. The knot may be formed by preparing a loop at the other side of the tie from that shown in Fig. 4, and other changes in the arrangement of the necktie resorted to.

It will be seen that I have provided a novel four-in-hand necktie construction in which material savings in backing material, and other materials, are obtained in conjunction with durability and smartness of appearance. An arrangement of supporting strap elements has been disclosed which furnishes greatly improved uniformity and regularity in the knotted portion of the tie, and a quicker and more accurate knotting operation may be effected. Novel fastening features which include stapling to impart improved quality to the knotted portion of the tie and those portions immediately adjacent to the knotted portions have also been set forth, and a novel, cheap and simple device is provided.

While I have shown a preferred embodiment of the invention, it should be understood that various changes and modifications may be resorted to in keeping with the spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A necktie construction comprising a backer, a covering conformed to and secured about the said backer, a filler stitched to the said backer along a mid-portion thereof, said filler being folded over upon itself to present two layers of material adjacent its point of stitching to the backer, said backer having one extremity overlapping an extremity of the folded-over portion of the filler and stitched to the folded-over portion of the filler and underlying portion of the filler, a strap member for supporting one side of the tie, said strap member being secured to one extremity of the tie in a position angularly disposed with respect to a line passing centrally of the said tie, a pleat formed in said tie, said pleat including the folded-over filler material, the backer and the covering, portions of the backer and covering members extending beyond the said pleat being secured together at their ends and folded upon themselves and about said strap member to comprise a knot from one side of which the strap member projects in an angular manner, the extremities of said knotted extending portions projecting out of the top of said knot to form a second strap member occurring at an opposite side of the knot from the side out of which the first strap member extends and being disposed in an angular position generally corresponding to the angular position of the said first strap member.

2. A necktie construction comprising a backer, a filler and a covering, said filler being folded over upon itself and secured along its line of folding to the backer, said backer having one extremity overlying and stitched to both of the filler portions, said folded filler portions together with adjacent backer and covering portions being secured in a pleat, those portions of the backer and covering extending beyond the filler being looped upon themselves to form a knot, the extremities of said looped backer and covering portions projecting from the knot to form a strap portion, said looped backer and covering portions having a strap member secured thereto in an angularly disposed position with respect to the center line of the tie, said strap extending from the upper side of the said knot in a direction opposite to the direction in which the said strap portion extends.

3. A necktie construction comprising a backer presenting a generally tapering apron portion, a filler member folded upon itself and secured at its line of folding by stitching to a mid-portion of the said backer, one extremity of the said backer being stitched to the folded-over portions of the filler, a covering surrounding said filler and backer, said backer portions and folded filler portions, occurring between the two points of stitching referred to, being secured in pleated relation, the portion of the backer and covering extending fromthe filler having a strap angularly secured thereto, said extending backer and covering portions being folded about themselves and around the strap to form a knot from one side of which the strap extends in an angular manner and from the opposite side of which the extremity of the backer and covering extends in a similar and oppositely disposed angular manner.

4. A necktie construction comprising a filler, a backer secured to said filler, a covering surrounding the filler and backer, said filler, backer and covering being folded upon themselves to form a knot from which their extremities extend, said extremities being secured in a folded-over position to constitute a first strap portion for supporting one side of the knot, a second strap portion secured to the knotted backer and covering portions and extending from the knot at a side opposite to that from which the first strap portion extends, said second strap portion being of a length generally corresponding to the length of the backer and covering portions included between their extremities and the point of attachment of the said second strap portion.

5. A necktie construction comprising afiller folded upon itself, a backer secured to the filler along the line of folding of the filler, said backer extending beyond the line of folding and overlapping the folded portions of the filler, a covering surrounding the backer and filler, those portions of the backer and covering extending beyond the filler being folded upon themselves to form a knot, the extremities of the backer and covering extending from one side of the knot to present a supporting strap portion, a strap element secured to the folded backer and covering portions and extending from an opposite side of the said knot, a pleat which includes the folded filler material and adjacent backer and covering portions occurring adjacent the bottom .edge of the said knot, said backing extending beyond the pleat into the apron portion of the necktie construction to present a bodied, effect in the pleated apron portion.

6. A necktie construction comprising a filler, a hacker and a covering, said filler being folded upon itself and secured at its line of folding to a mid-portion of the backer, said backer having one extremity extending beyond the folded-over portion of the filler and secured to both layers of the filler, those portions of the filler, backer and covering occurring between the line of folding of the filler and the point at which the backing extremity is secured to the filler being secured together in a pleat, those backer and covering portions extending beyond the filler being looped upon themselves to form a knot having a supporting strap portion, the bottom of the said knot being disposed at a point adjacent the point of securing of the said pleat, and a strap element secured to the top of the knot at an opposite side from the side at which the strap portion extends.

ALI J. FIUMEDORO. 

